Kete inspired Pendant

Exploring concepts of kete (flax woven basket) traditional Māori container being metaphorical for a container for spiritual elements, such as mauri, mana and knowledge / understanding. The concept Māori had of objects, containing a spiritual essence, mauri, in animate and inanimate objects. The idea that a taonga (treasure) or any created object contains some of the essence of the creator; essence from the material itself, be it wood-trees, bones-animals, shell-sea, stone-earth, etc. Also, if that object was to be worn for adornment or spiritual / cultural reasons these objects … over time and with use take on and become permeated with some of the mauri, mana and essence of the wearer. When passed on down through generations as a heirloom it wasn’t just passing of an object, but also of invisible spiritual energy. So these [kete-inspired baskets] take the form of a functional item: their function is a container / vessel for mauri, mana, understanding, knowledge and spiritual concepts.

“I have been fortunate enough to have a supportive family and met many inspiring people in my life who have encouraged me to follow my talents and passion. My father, a woodcarver himself, imparted his knowledge of woodcraft plus provided a creative environment and stories of my great-uncles Pine and John Taiapa, who were Tohunga Whakairo. I have always respected and been inspired by the artistic achievements by indigenous artisans in Aotearoa and throughout the world.”